Walker Hobbs helped Grace to a top-five finish at the NCCAA Indoor Nationals. (File photo by Mike Deak)

CEDARVILLE, Ohio – Grace’s track and field team made frequent trips to the podium over the weekend at the 2019 NCCAA Indoor National Championships.

The Lancers scored in 18 events and had eight events place in the top three (All-American). The men’s team finished fifth out of 15 squads, and the Lady Lancers were seventh.

Grace’s relay teams excelled at the national meet, hosted by Cedarville University. Both the men’s and women’s 4×400-meter relay teams finished third for All-American recognition. Nordia Campbell, Kaitlyn Mack, Suzanne Sickafoose and Julia Malson crossed the finish line in 4:14.26, and the men’s foursome of Paul Brawner, Dylan Felger, Brendan Hamilton and Kyle Smith finished in 3:29.51.

The women’s 4×200 was the national runner-up; Campbell, Malson, Sickafoose and Olivia Lugibihl ended in 1:49.02.

The men’s 4×800 was also a national runner-up when Brady Willard, Luke Smith, John Marhefka and Hamilton posted a time of 8:08.51.

Felger also gleaned an All-American nod in the 400 with a time of 51.19, and Isaac Brown was second in the high jump at 6-feet-8.75.

Campbell had a busy weekend. Beyond earning All-American recognition in two relays, she also was All-American in the 60 dash with a third-place showing of 8.02 seconds. Additionally she placed fourth in the 200 at 26.62.

Kyle Smith also earned an individual All-American honor as a freshman when he placed third in the 800 at 1:59.03.

Other women’s placers include seventh place finishes by Carmen Trier (800) and Heather Plastow (mile), as well as eighth place performances by Mack (400) and Kylie Sandquist (60 hurdles).

On the men’s side, Caleb Brown placed in two field events. He was fifth in the weight throw at 48-10 and eighth in the shot put at 44-11.5. Walker Hobbs was seventh in the shot put at 45-6.25.

Korry Hamlin placed fourth in the 5,000 at 15:56.46, and Ben Rankin was right behind him in fifth place. Brawner (60 dash) and Elijah Brooks (3,000) each placed eighth in their respective events.

“This was a great way to cap off our indoor season with many people contributing to our success this weekend,” said Grace head coach Jeff Raymond. “We are excited about continuing our development in outdoor season.”

Isaac Brown will represent Grace at the NAIA Indoor Championships in the high jump. The meet is in Brookings, S.D., starting on Feb. 28. Brown’s best jump of 6-9.75 is currently tied for third in the NAIA.